Shipment year opens with solid Q1

General aviation shipments for the first quarter of 2026 have shown encouraging results, with piston-engined aeroplanes recording figures 6.4% above those for Q1 2025.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) published last week revealed that 381 piston-engined aeroplanes were delivered to customers in the January-March 2026 quarter, compared with 358 for the same period last year. Turbine-powered deliveries were down by four airframes, which was not enough to cancel out the growth in piston shipments.

Cirrus Aircraft maintained its customary position at the head of the four-seat single market, with the SR20 leading the trainer market with 49 shipments, an increase of 58% over last year and four airframes ahead of the Cessna C172SP, which experienced a 6% decrease in demand. The 32 Piper PA-28s rolled-out was exactly the same as Q1 2025, and Tecnam's P2010 and P-Mentor also recorded relatively flat returns with nine and 10 shipment respectively.

In the high-speed single market, Cirrus again dominated what was a very soft segment, delivering 126 SR22/Ts to customers, a 26% increase over last year. No other high-speed single broke double figures for the quarter. Poignantly, the single G36 Bonanza delivered could be the last of a long line that began in 1948 after Textron deleted the Bonanza from its range in November last year.

Results in the twin market showed no surprises, with Diamond's DA62 and Tecnam's P2006T sharing line honours with 10 airframes delivered each. A count-back would give the win to the P2006T, which experienced a 100% growth over Q1 2025, whereas the DA62 was down 38%. Similar to its single-engined sister, the one G58 Baron rolled-out could be the last of its kind, pending any orders outstanding prior to November last year.

Among the powerhouses of the single-engine turbo-prop (SETP) market, Cessna's Caravan range dragged its feet a bit with Q1 deliveries down 26% over last year from 23 to 17, countered by a 36% increase in demand for Pilatus' PC-12, up four shipments to 15. All others were relatively flat compared to Q1 2025, but once again the 750XL failed to make any mark on the scoresheet.

There were no outstanding results in the single-pilot jet market, with Cirrus' SF50 Vision leading the way with 21 shipments, up 11% over last year, and Embraer's Phenom range holding steady up 14%, recording 16 deliveries against the 14 of Q1 2025.

Major Aircraft Shipments